William Williams Fooks1,2

#965, (circa 1783-January 1845)
FatherWilliam Fooks (c 1760-Sep 1844)
MotherAnn Williams MacKenzie (c 1759-Oct 1832)
Last Edited1 Oct 2022
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fooks-130.
Williams signature in 1834 from his marriage certificate.
     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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William was born circa 1783 at Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset.3 He was the son of William Fooks and Ann Williams MacKenzie. William Williams Fooks was baptised on Tuesday, 8 July 1783 at Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset.4,2,5

He married Jane (?), circa 1805.2 William Williams Fooks was a mercer in 1812.2

In 1813, William owned land in Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset, that he occupied that was assessed for land tax of £ 0-7-6.6

A William Williams Fooks, tailor, dealer and chapman, was listed as an insolvent debtor.2 A William Fooks was confined in HM Prison Dorchester, Dorchester, Dorset, for at least six years.2 He was a tailor and draper at Bond Street, Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset.2 William's petition was heard on Saturday, 22 February 1823 at County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset, and was apparently successful.2

In 1828 (and until 1829) he owned a house in Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset, which he leased to James Latty (but was exempt from land tax.)7,8

As another researcher has asked:
Why did William and Jane move to Tyneside, so far from Dorset? Perhaps it was connected to William’s imprisonment for debt, the couple hoping for a more prosperous life in this expanding industrial city?2

William and Jane lived in 1832 at Lisle Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland.2

By March 1836 he had fallen into debt again:
William Fookes, formerly of Brandling-Place, afterwards at Furnished Lodgings in Percy-Place, Percy-Street, afterwards of Arthur’s Hill, Westgate, all in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, out of business, and late of Saint John’s Lane, Newcastle, Ginger and Spruce-Beer Manufacturer.2



He was recorded as head of household in the 1841 census at Dockendale Hall, Whickham, Durham. The 1841 census only recorded adult ages rounded down to the nearest 5 years; his approximate age was recorded as 50 (although he was closer to 57).9 His occupation was recorded as being a tailor in the census.9

His father died 19 September 1844.

William may have died in January 1845 at Durham.2 His body was perhaps interred on 23 January 1845 at the village of Lamesly near the town of Whickham, Durham.10,2

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
1783BirthMelcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset3
1783BaptismMelcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset4,2,5
1805Marriage2
1812Occupation2
1813Note memo only CR CRMelcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset6
1817Note memo only CR CR2
Note memo onlyHM Prison Dorchester, Dorchester, Dorset2
OccupationBond Street, Melcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset2
1823Note memo onlyCounty Hall, Dorchester, Dorset2
1828Note memo only CR CRMelcombe Regis, Weymouth, Dorset7,8
1832Quotation type 32
1832ResidenceLisle Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland2
1836Quotation type 32
1841Census (Eng) 1841Dockendale Hall, Whickham, Durham9
Occupation9
1845Death-CandidateDurham2
1845Burial-candidate the village of Lamesly near the town of Whickham, Durham10,2

Family

Jane (?) (1772-Apr 1832)
Children

Citations

  1. [S1109] England, Dorset, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921 Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com) Name: William Fooks; Event Type: Baptism; Baptism Date: 8 Jul 1783; Baptism Place: Melcombe Regis, Dorset, England; Father: William Fooks; Mother: Ann Fooks.
  2. [S1394] The Roberts Family (https://sites.google.com/view/therobertsfamily/home) William Williams Fooks (1783-1845) https://sites.google.com/view/therobertsfamily/…
  3. [S274] Grahame R. Fooks, The Fooks Family Records p.1.
  4. [S463] Family Search (A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) (https://familysearch.org) "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3PK-WS6 : 20 September 2020), William Witham Fooks, 1783.
  5. [S274] Grahame R. Fooks, The Fooks Family Records p.1 (This source has the baptism a day earlier.).
  6. [S1392] Dorset, England, Land Tax Returns, 1780-1832 (www.ancestry.com) Tenant: William Fooks; Proprietor: William Fooks Senior; Year: 1813; Residence: Weymouth and Melcombe Regis; Year range: 1812-1832; Call Number: Qde (L) 58/ 31-49.
  7. [S1392] Dorset, England, Land Tax Returns, 1780-1832 (www.ancestry.com) Tenant: Willm Fooks Senior; Proprietor: Willm Fooks; Year: 1828; Residence: Melcombe Regis; Year range: 1812-1832; Call Number: Qde (L) 58/ 31-49.
  8. [S1392] Dorset, England, Land Tax Returns, 1780-1832 (www.ancestry.com) Proprietor: Willm Fooks; Year: 1829; Residence: Melcombe Regis; Year range: 1812-1832; Call Number: Qde Qde (L) 58/ 31-49.
  9. [S397] National Census for England, 1841 (online image) Class: HO107; Piece: 302; Book: 14; Civil Parish: Whickham; County: Durham; Enumeration District: 4; Folio: 24; Page: 14; Line: 2; GSU roll: 241349.
  10. [S463] Family Search (A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) (https://familysearch.org) "England, Durham Diocese Bishop's Transcripts, 1639-1919," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-63LS-NJR : 12 June 2014), Durham > Lamesley > 1765-1851 > image 797 of 884; Record Office, Matlock.
  11. [S561] Dorset Online Parish Clerks (http://www.opcdorset.org/) Melcombe Regis - St Mary's - Baptisms 1811 - 1820 http://www.opcdorset.org/WeymouthMelcombeFiles/…